Imagine Your STEM Future & PUSH Network

The Imagine Your STEM Future Program provides girls in grades 9 and 11 with the opportunity to explore STEM concepts, learn about STEM educational pathways and careers, and build community with peers and mentors from Raytheon and the University of Arizona.  This year IYSF has joined the STEM PUSH Network.  The STEM PUSH Network is a National Science Foundation funded project led by researchers at the University of Pittsburg. STEM PUSH is working to create long-term sustainable change in STEM enrollment and persistence by creating relationships and fostering systems-level change among pre-college STEM programs and post-secondary institutions.  As a member of the STEM PUSH Network, IYSF staff will have the opportunity to participate in a self-study andengage in network activities focused on improving program practices.  In particular, we will evaluate everything from how we recruit students to our curriculum to our relationship with post-secondary institutions to our evaluation practices, to engage in targeted efforts to ensure the program is operating with high impact.  Moreover, as part of the network, we will participate in a process of accreditation that will help admissions officers at post-secondary institutions understand the value of participation in IYSF and improve the likelihood that alumni will be accepted into and persist in STEM degree programs.